Safety razor blade



Patented Apr. 20, 1948 OFFICE SAFETY RAZOR BLADE Henry Ruskin, Chicag 6 Claims. 1

My present invention relates generally to razors, and has particular reference to safety razors and to a new type of safety razor blade.

The conventional and well-known safety razor action has heretofore involved the cooperative employment of at least two elements, one being a blade with a shaving edge thereon, the other being a guard element arranged in predetermined positional relation to the cutting edge so as to minimize the likelihood of a cutting injury. In various ways, the blade and guard elements are held in proper association, usually by forming the guard on a saddle or holder upon or by means of which the blade is adapted to be secured in position. In this conventional type of structure, the blade always remains inherently dangerous per se, regardless of its mode of securement in the razor or whether or not any special loading magazine or the like is provided.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a simplification in safety razor design, whereby fewer parts are required, whereby a more efficient and safer shaving action can be achieved, and whereby the blade element itself is rendered relatively harmless under all circumstances so 0, 111., assignor of one-half to George E. Hale, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 12, 1945, Serial No. 634,505

that it may be handled as a separate unit with a reasonable degree of safety.

This desirable result is achieved without recourse to any extraneous protective mounting, sheath, or magazine, and its successful accomplishment is predicated, in part, upon the discovery that a blade element, if properly designed and constructed in a special manner, can be made to be entirely self-guarding, providing: not only a shaving edge but also a permanent guard therefor. The general advantages and economies which stem from this achievement will be obvious not only to those skilled in the art, but to the I layman too.

Briefly stated, I accomplish the desired objective by constructing a, blade element of the usual blade material and forming in it a special type of slot which has at least one of its edges attenuated to define a cutting edge, the opposite slot edge being so spaced that it serves as a permanent built-in safety guard for the cutting edge when the latter is moved in shaving relation along the surface to beshaved. In the drawings, I have shown both slot edges as attenuated to define cutting edges whereby either edge may be used to shave at any movement and the opposite edge act as a safety guard therefor.

It should be borne in mind that the blade of the present invention is entirely self-sufiicient so far as shaving capabilities are concerned, and, is

in this respect whollycomparable to ordinary razor blades, no dependence being placed upon any additional relatively movable element (as in the so-called dry-shaver) whose cooperation effects a shearing or clipping action as distinguished from the true shaving efiect produced by the sliding advancement of an attenuated shaving edge over the surface to be shaved.

This shaving capability is imparted to the present blade by constructing it so that the cutting edge lies substantially in the plane of the outer or face-contacting surface of the blade element, or in aplane minutely beyond and parallel to saidouter surface. I

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the blade element is shown as provided with a plurality of slots of the character mentioned, arranged side by side, and each of at least one set of corresponding slot edges forms a cutting edge, whereby the movement of the element over the surface to be shaved will subject the latter to the simultaneous shaving action of a plurality of shaving edges. Whether one or more slots is used, the arrangement of slot or slots with their axes oblique to the shaving direction permits the attainment of an unusually efiicient shaving result. With this object in view, the present safety razor may comprise a holder including a handle, with cooperable means being provided on the holder and blade for mounting the latter in a position which is transverse to'the handle axis and which disposesthe axes of the slots, or the axis of the slot, obliquely to the handle axis.

I have found that features of the invention manifest themselves to best advantage when the slotted blade element is curved to present a convex outer surface, preferably a surface which is cylindrically convex. Such an element lends itself more readily to smooth movements over the irregular contours of a'surface to be shaved; and moreover, it is easier to handle and staunch in nature, notwithstanding the factthat it can be composed, basically, of relatively thin sheet material of the kind which is customarily employed for safety razor blades.

While the improved blade of the present invention constitutes in itself a complete shaving implement, andmay in fact be used as such, it is preferable that a holder be provided to facilitate its manipulation and use. Such a holder may be of the simplest possible character, and one satisfactory type of holder consists in nothing more than a handle and a pair of resilient clamps.

. Where the razor is curved, as is preferred, it lends tself readily to a releasable engagement with the clamps on the under or concave surface of the blade. Depending upon the nature of the holder, the blade may be positioned at any desired angularity with respect to the handle, but I have found it to be of advantage to mount the blade in a generally transverse disposition with respect to the handle axis, preferably in a somewhat inclined or oblique disposition which facilitates the application f the outer operative. surface of the blade to the area which is to be shaved.

Under certain circumstances, the blade may be provided with slots differing from one another in;

certain characteristics, thereby affording opportunity for achieving correspondingly-different shaving results. An example of; such. a snecialslot. designed is hereinafter described.

I achieve the foregoing general objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages tiall-y alongline 5-5 of Fig; i

are shown "as thus attenuated. For example,

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged: cross-sectional view.

taken substantially along the linei fi of'Fig. 4.; Fig. 7 is a greatlyenlarged crui rsectional view takemsubstantially along the. finely-1 of Fig. 4; a d:

Fig; 8 is a. view similar to Fig.--.6il;lustrating. a modification. 7 7

Referring first to! Figs. 4-6;; blade. which. I

Y have chosen to illustrate iscomposed of an element of flat, material, such as. the s r ical steel which is customari yutilized. for razor blade purposes; The,- element may be: curved: during the;

course of its manufacture so; that a body portion H); isprovidedawhich .coniorms in contour toa portion of: a:- ylindricalz surfa e... and: the element is so shown inv the. drawin sor einal: shap of the element. is shown as. f: s ch: a.- character that, the resultant ouryeo; body portion: has-front and; rearirnargins H and- .l-ZE :respectively which are. parallel to. the; cylinder; axis. Laterallythe element is. provided with flanges: 3 which-are di posed nsversely to: the cylind r-axis. and the desired. rigidity is; enhanced byturningthe end.

portions; of. the flanges. 1d utwardly, indicat d. at {4; so as to, liev a planeparalleltotthecylinder axis. For a purpose presently to bedescribed. the body portion H); is; shown extended beyond: the

front and; rear margins H.- and litopmvide ine turned: ends l6. projecting. below. the level. of. the planeof the portions 114;-

I. have: illustratively'shown the, laterals-flanges.

is: as having aconcave shaufioandthe outer edges of the portions l4 of conve g curvaturegh This cons ructio pro ve aw nkman ike. r u which mparts the d sired. de re 015. r gidity: to th a e element; and permits. itto .be readily handled byrasp ng. the; flan es lz between the fingers. Howeven; it will beunderstood that; these structural; details. may be varied widelywithout affect:-

ing: the basic-features of. novelty of the present:

blade e ement. 1' 1 In the, curved, bodypor-tion it of; the. .blade- I; h v r hcwnr a p m s o s o s '1. rang d si e by side in substantially parallel relationship, each slot being arranged with its axis lying in a plane obliquely intersecting the cylinder axis. Certain phases of my invention are not restricted to the employment of any particular number of slots nor to their oblique arrangement. Under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to provide fewer slots, or even a single slot, but for most practical purposes; a series of slots, as'shown. is believed preferable.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated, upon an enlarged scale, the nature of each slot ll. One or both of its opposite longitudinaI edges may be attenuated to define a cutting edge, and in the embodiment illustrated in the present drawings, both edges upon viewing Fig. .6, it will be observed that the left-hand edge I 8 is beveled down to a razor edge, and that the right-hand edge [9 is similarly attenuated. Of primary importance is the fact that each of these cutting edges lies substantially in the planeof. the outer or faceecontacting surface. 20 of the blade element, i. e. the surtacewhich appears. uppermost in Fig. l.

The angle at. which each cutting edgeis beveledis. a matter of choice. and experience, and maybe, for example, between 16 and 22. .Where the blade. material isof a thickness. of, approximately four to sixthousandths of an inch the overhand of each cutting edge will. be approximately twelve tofifteen. thousandths. of. an inch.

safety. guard. for the opposite edge; I havefound that. a slot width of betweenapproximately twenty topfifty thousandths. of an inch (for ex ample,;. forty thousandths of an inch) is admir-- ably suited to accomplish the desired result.

At this point it is'appropriate to refer to- Fig. 8- in which 1'.- haveshown a slight modification in which each of thecutting edges l8 and it lies in a-plane 21' which is minutelybeyond-yet parallel toytheplane 20 of. the outer surface of theblade element. This construction isoiadvantagerin. strengthening and rigidifying the cutting edges; and in facilitating the manufacture of the blade element,. especially in grindingthe outer surfacesof the cuttinggedges.

In. either case, it. will' bBLEPIJaI'EHt that the applicationof the blade to: the surface .to be shaved, coupled. with the. usual slight pressure which is exerted during the shaving. procedure.

each left -hand edge corresponding to the edge I8 of Fig; 6 may be attenuated; or each right-hand edge corresponding to the edge [9- of- Fig. 6 may be" attenuated, or both edges of each slot maybe a ground down asindicated in Fig. 6., Where there are a plurality of such slots...the advancement of the blade inthe shaving direction (substantially perpendicular to. the margins H and 1.2) will simultaneously bring allof one. set or, the otherof the cutting edges. into-operation. A highly efficient shaving action is thus achieved. Furthermore, where the slots areinclined, as shown,

this shaving. action is. at unusual effectiveness be .cause of the, slight angleatwhich each cutting edge encounters the hairs which are to be rethis separate slot being arranged alongside the;

innermost set of ends of the inclined slots l1 and having its axis parallel to the cylinder axis. The

nature of the separate slot 22 is best disclosed in T Fig. 7. It willbe observed that one of its edges is attenuated as at 23, and that. this edge is the one which lies adjacent to the inclined slots H. The opposite edge 24 may or may not be attenuated, and is preferably left dull, as shown. It will also be observed (Fig. 4) that the ends of the slot 22' have relatively short transverse extensions 25 which are so arranged that the' cutting edge 23 lies between them. This results in permitting the cutting edge 23 to project outwardly by a minute amount as shown most clearly in Fig. '7.

The slot 22 and the cutting edge 23 are intended for the specialized purpose of enabling the user to form a straight shaved edge adjacent to the hairline in front of the ears. Usually one stroke of the razor is sufficient to accomplish this purpose, and in performing this act, the blade' shown in Fig. 4 is moved toward the margin l2. During normal operation of the blade for general shaving purposes, it is contemplated that the blade will be moved (on the shaving stroke) to ward the margin H. In this way, since the cutting edge 23 faces away from the slots l1, it is ineffective to cause any injury during normal shaving movements of the blade. However, even if the user chooses to advance the blade in both directions during normal shaving, the convex curvature of the outer surface keeps the cutting edge 23 well away from the region being shaved so that the cutting edges of the slots I 1 are the only ones which are effective for shaving purposes.

The slot 22 is illustrative of the special types of slots which may be provided in a. single shaving instrumentality of the present character, and while certain advantages are achieved by the particular arrangement shown in the present drawings, it will be understood that the main features of the invention do not require the particular relationships between the slots I! and 22 shown in the drawings.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the blade element is in itself a complete shaving implement. Regardless of how it may be grasped or wielded, the application of the convex surface to the area to be shaved, and the consequent advancement of this surface, will result in a shaving action of efficient yet safe character. However, to facilitate the use of this improved blade element, and to conform the operation to the one which most users have become accustomed to, I deem it desirable to provide a holder with which the blade element may be associated when it is to be used. This holder is illustrated most clearly in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and consists essentially of a handle 25 and a pair of resilient relatively movable clamps 26 and 21 thereon. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the clamp 26 is rigidly secured to the handle 25 and may form part of a single element of metal or the like 28 which airtends around the handle as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The clamp 21 is preferably mounted at the end of a sprin y portion 29 which may form part of the same band of metal 28, and which is 6 normally urged away from the clamp 26 by virtue of its inherent'resiiience. The clamping portions 26 and 21 are adapted to fit between the inturned portions N5 of the'bladeelement, and the act of applying and removing the blade, with respect to the holder, involves nothing more than the act of pressing the springy portion 29 toward the handle and then releasing it again; i

In the embodiment illustrated, the clamping portions 26 and 21 areso arranged (see Fig. 2) that when the blade element is engaged it lies substantially in a disposition transverse to the handle axis and inclined to the latter at approximately 45. This particular inclination is not of primary importance, but is apreferred arrangement of parts whichmakes the razoreasier to use; v

Inhandling the presentblade, it will be noted that it is at all times reasonably safe since it embodies within itself a safety guard for each cutting edge. It is not inherently dangerous as are all safety razor blades of known type. Nor does its use involve any laborious manipulations or adjustments of a holder or other apparatus. It may be used, washed, and re-used with great facility. Its replacement is a matter of great simplicity.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A razor blade comprising an element of sheet material provided with a slot therein, at least one edge of the slot being attenuated to define a cutting edge, the opposite edge being suit- .ably spaced therefrom to serve as a safety guard being attenuated to define a cutting edge, the

opposite edge of each slot being suitably spaced from the opposed cutting edge to serve as a safety guard therefor, said convexity conforming substantially to the curvature of a cylinder, said slots being arranged with their axes lyin in substantially parallel planes obliquely intersecting the cylinder axis.

3. A razor blade comprising an element of sheet material curved to present a cylindrically convex outer surface, said element being provided with a group of inclined slots arranged side by side with their axes lying in substantially parallel planes obliquely intersecting the cylinder axis, said element being also provided with a separate slot arranged alongside one set of ends of said inclined slots and with its axis parallel to the cylinder axis, one edge of said separate slot and each of at least one set of corresponding edges of said inclined slots being attenuated to define a cutting edge, the opposite edge of each sletv being suitablyrsnacedinom thennpesede cut-. ting; edge to: servezas; a safiew guard theretor.

4.. A; razor blade: as set;: mm in; claim; 3-,v the attenuated: edge of said; separate; slot being the one adjacent to: saidrinclinedslots.

5. A: razon blade: comnrisi-ng, an element: of

sheet materialemrved to, conform 'toa pontionof a cylindrical surface, saicL element-having, front and;rear marginsparallelztorthe cylinder axis and being: provided. with. endafianges disposed in planes transvelzse to the cylinder axis, said element being; provided-1n: theeurvedregion with a slot ofat least oneedge of which is attenuated to definea cuttingv edge; theopposite edge ofthe slotbeing suitably spaced to: serve asa safety guard for. said eutting edge.

6. A razor blade as set forth in claim 5, the.

axis. of said slotrbeing inclined to said'front margin, whereby application. of. the blade-to the: area to be. shaved and movement along a direction 20;

substantially perpendicularto. said ironemargin will cause said guarded cutting edge to effect a.

shaving action upon the hair encountered,

HENRY RUSKI-N.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record: in the file of this: patent: 

